"We need to maintain the good things we're doing until the end," said Ellen Wallace, a Jordan board member. "We don't know what the new districts will want to implement."

On Nov. 6, a majority of east-side voters chose to break away from Jordan, the state's largest district. Voters in Sandy, Draper, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Alta and some unincorporated parts of Salt Lake County approved the creation of a new east-side district. By law, west-side residents were not allowed to participate in the vote.

Assuming a pending legal challenge is not successful, the district is expected to divide in July 2009.

"The primary responsibility of the board right now . . . will be to ensure that the current district operates at a high level, [with] high standards and nothing will interfere with the level of educational programs and offerings that are currently in place," said J. Dale Christensen, board president.

The board's priorities will be discussed in the coming weeks.

Board members made it clear some new ideas may be put on hold, including single-gender classrooms.

"Should I save the gender-specific thing for a year and a half?" asked board member Peggy Jo Kennett. "OK, probably."